Protective Custody for Morbidly Obese Children?

by John Hendrick | September 30, 2011 11:02 AM EDT

I had a part time local jail contract as their Psychiatrist for 11 years. During that time I once served for 6 months as the acting fill in for a level 3 and 4 adolescent residential under state contract. Over the next 5-6 years 100% of those adolescents were incarcerated in that local nearby jail for one thing or another. Every state's Child Protective Services are overwhelmed, underbudgeted, understaffed and politically scapegoated at almost every turn. If this idea gains momentum the law of unintended consequences will run wild. It sometimes astounds me that state governments are even worse at raising children than neglectful parents, but in my experience it is consistently true. Just try and contact them on a weekend for assistance with complex decisions. If parents were similarly unavailable for hospitalized children it would become a criminal matter, but of course, they are immune from such petty tribulations. I have seen this kind of thing in 3 different states, they're all terrible. I suspect it is similar all over the country.
Heaven help the child who falls into their custody!

by Sally Ricketts | September 30, 2011 10:33 AM EDT

the substantial psychiatric sequelae to children whose family syswtem is ruptured with resultant foster care placement are well-documented. The levels of abuse and neglect which occur in foster home settings is also documented.

there are many factors that lead to childhood obesity and are not well understood

there is research that demonstrates improved diabetic control in children with Type 1 DM after intensive family-based interventions.

So why would anyone suggest that children and parents should experience the trauma of separation when there is no research suggesting that this reduces overall morbidity and mortality, and good research to suggest that family interventions can be successful?